When possible, we repair a tooth with a crown or possibly dental bonding, preventing major complications following injury or decay. But sometimes concerns arise that cannot be treated with a restoration, and leaving them in place instead increases the risk of major problems. To avoid these and safeguard your remaining teeth, your Irving, TX, dentist could offer a tooth extraction.
The Reasons We Remove Your Teeth
Why does a tooth require an extraction in the first place? Well, we could recommend removing one too damaged for repair, or too infected for a root canal. Otherwise, leaving them in place could allow infection to spread to other parts of the smile. We could take out teeth loosened by gum disease, or to make room for orthodontic treatment. If wisdom teeth threaten to erupt, we could remove them prior to their arrival to prevent misalignment, infection, and painful partial eruption known as impactions. If you’ve lost most of your teeth, taking out the last few could make room for your new dentures.
Sedation and Anesthesia
As with all of our treatments, we will take time to ensure you’re comfortable throughout the process. In addition to a local anesthesia to the area where the tooth is being extracted, our team could offer sedation to help you enter a calm and relaxed state, with little to no memory of the procedure. We have more than one sedation option, and the one we prescribe will depend on your anxiety level, age, weight, medical history, and other factors. A trained anesthesiologist will be on hand as well.
The Extraction Process
The tooth extraction process takes about 30 minutes in many cases. We take detailed digital x-rays of your smile to identify the position of the tooth, so we can plan the removal in detail to avoid sinus cavities or nerve tissues. We then gently extract the tooth with a pair of forceps, and then suture the area closed. Our team will then remove the sutures in a follow up visit as the area heals. Afterward, a friend or family member can bring you home, since the sedation takes time to wear off. Be sure you take any prescribed medications as instructed, and rest for a full day. No strenuous activity, and avoid prodding the site with your tongue or using straws, as clots need to form as part of the healing process and dislodging them can be problematic. Eat soft foods, and be very gentle when you brush and floss.
Talk To Your Irving, TX Dentist About Tooth Extraction
We want to help you enjoy good oral health and avoid major complications. To find out more about our approach to restorative dental care, then please reach out to Defining Smiles in Irving, TX today at 972-717-0860.
